A TOBIT ANALYSIS OF PROPENSITY TO ADOPT SOIL CONSERVATION PRACTICES AMONG ARABLE CROP FARMERS IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

• Main Authors: A.U. Ofuoku, C. Egbuchua, L.U. Okonmah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: AcademicPres 2011-11-01
• Series: Agricultura
• Online Access: http://journals.usamvcluj.ro/index.php/agricultura/article/view/7215

This study determined the propensity of arable crops farmers to adopt soil conservation practices. A total of 150 farmers were systemically selected from 6 local government areas in Delta State Data were collected from the respondents using interview schedule and questionnaire. Data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Results show that majority of the respondents were women. Most of the respondents (62%) were in the age bracket of 30-50 years. Most of them had one form of formal education or the other with average household size of 3 persons and average farm size of 1.5 hectare. Most (65.3%) of the contact farmers were visited fortnightly. All the farmers were engaged in the use of soil conservation practices, however, there is generally low propensity to adopt such practices among the respondents. Marital status, educational level, household size, farm size, farming experience and extension visit had significant relationship with propensity of farmers to adopt soil conservation practices. It was therefore recommended that there is need to increase extension-farmer contact, trained and recruit more extension agents, encourage farmer-farmer extension and encourage group visit with farmers.